Showing posts with label Japanese. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Japanese. Show all posts

Monday, 8 September 2014

Masu

It had been a while since I'd had a knock-your-socks-off meal, so the newly famous Masu restaurant seemed like an appropriate place to change that.

Masu is located in Federal Street, and since picking up Metro's Best Restaurant award mere months after opening it has gone from strength to strength and has become a beloved favourite of many.




We settled into the bar where I was entranced by the expert bartenders.  This one was a 'plumberry sawa'; a sour plum concoction atop a whole block of ice.

Next was the food and I happily handed the ordering over to the others (a rare event). We started with edamame, of course, and a luxurious platter of the softest, freshest sashimi.








It felt like we were ordering everything on the menu - enormous juicy tempura prawns, caramelised pork ribs, Alaskan King Crab claw and chicken skewers.

You would think that would be enough for four ( I was full by this point), but on we went....



Light and crispy crayfish tacos, followed by meltingly tender beef fillet (which was gobbled up before I even touched my camera).

The food was all incredible - and you would be extremely hard pressed to find a dish at Masu that doesn't impress. My favourites were the beef, the tacos, and the crab - though in part just because the claw looked so fantastic on the plate.




We were bursting at the seams, but there is always room for desert. This one we enviously spooted at another table, and not wanting to be out eaten we ordered it too. Even with two self-proclaimed 'non-desert-people' at the table everyone got stuck in, and the plate was cleaned.

If you haven't figured it out from my raving already, the food at Masu is incredible. But to go there for yourself and experience the stylish interiors and impeccable service to compliment the meal takes it to another level, one that definitely blew my socks off.


Wednesday, 19 February 2014

Karaage Chicken

Karaage Chicken is better than sushi.

OK, a high claim, but those of you who have tried Karaage chicken will know that a good one is hard to beat. It is a Japanese fried chicken that knocks the socks of any KFC you've ever tried (and yes, sushi too).



I'm sure my recipe isn't completely authentic, but it tastes awesome, so here you go.

Karaage Chicken (serves 2)


  • 4 boneless/skinless free range chicken thighs
  • 1/4 cup soy sauce
  • 2 cloves garlic, crushed
  • 1 teaspoon ginger, minced
  • 1 teaspoon Sriacha hot sauce (or finely chopped chilli)


Chop each chicken thigh into 4 strips.
Mix soy, garlic, ginger and Sriacha to form the marinade.
Mix with chicken and marinate for at least two hours.


  • 1 cup cornflour
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 750ml canola oil


Mix together cornflour and salt, and coat chicken pieces thoroughly.
Heat oil in a wok or pot until it just reaches smoking point, and carefully lower batches of the floured chicken in (about 4-5 strips at a time).
Cook chicken for about 3 minutes on each side, until crisp and golden.

Once she's ready sprinkle with sesame seeds, and serve with lemon wedges and Kewpie Japanese mayonnaise (the BEST)

Karaage is great served with slaw, or a crunchy green salad with sesame dressing. Or you can be extra naughty and load it all into a roll or a burger like I did...










Monday, 26 August 2013

Janken

Tucked away in Herne Bay is our next spot for lunch; Janken, a Japanese health food haven. Georgia, Tat and I ventured there for a meal the other day, and were treated to what must have been the healthiest and one of the most delicious bento boxes we had ever had.




The lunch and dinner menus are very different, so if you're looking for choice I would hold out for dinner, but the lunch menu suited us just fine.




The girls both went for crockpot teriyaki chicken while I chose the chicken meatballs. There was a bit of food envy when it arrived as they decided mine looked the best- win!






But they all tasted delicious, and with organic wholefood ingredients we found we were absolutely stuffed by the end.

We should have ended here, but I've got to admit that earlier in the day I made a sneaky call begging Janken to whip up some of their famous pork buns that normally only feature on the dinner menu. They happily obliged, and although full, we gobbled them up. Oink oink.


I'm not a health freak, but Janken's healthy food really hit the spot, and I recommend it if you want to eat out minus the guilt. And while I have only tried the lunch menu, I've heard great things about the dinner and will most definitely be back.


p.s. You can find the dinner menu online here and the lunch menu here.